PORTSMOUTH
On Saturday the ceremony of cutting the first sod, preparatory to commencing the works on this line, took place at Buriton, on the estate of Mr. B. Carter, M.P. Buriton is situated on the intended line a short distance from Petersfield, being about 20 miles from Godalming, and 12 miles from Havant. The place chosen for cutting the sod is partly encircled by a steep hill, clothed with verdure, and well wooded, and is also near the mouth of an intended tunnel to pass through the hill. The directors and their friends from London were conveyed from the Waterloo station to Farnham by the South-Western Railway, and thence by coaches over the road through a beautiful country a distance of 18 miles. Parties from Havant and other places also arrived on the ground about half-past 2 o’clock. A procession, headed by a band of music, was formed at an old mansion close by, formerly the residence of Mr. Gibbon, the historian. Numbers of well-dressed persons were assembled in groups at various distances on the sloping hill partly surrounding the spot selected for the ceremony. The procession having arrived, Mr. F. Mowatt, the chairman of the company, opened the proceedings by congratulating the spectators on the fine day they had for their work, and on the certainty of having railway communication in the district. He said it would form part of a direct line between London and Portsmouth and intermediate places, and it would confer great advantages on the country both in a local and national point of view, as there was no doubt it would be carried out to completion. The value of property would be greatly enhanced in the district, and facilities for trade which did not now exist would be afforded. The saving in distance by this line over the present routes between London and Portsmouth would be 22 miles, and in time from three-quarters of an hour to one hour. The bill had been opposed by the South-Western and Brighton and South Coast Railway Company, but Parliament had decided on granting the bill. In accordance with Mr. Cardwell’s clause in the act, the directors had entered into a bond to pay the whole deposit to the Crown in case the line should not be completed within the time specified. (Hear, hear.) The line would commence by a junction with the South-Western Railway at Godalming, and terminate for the present at Havant on the South Coast line, but it was intended to apply for powers to extend it to Portsmouth. They would have a short junction line to the South-Eastern Railway, so that they would have one terminus at Waterloo-road and the other at London-bridge. The South-Western Railway had met them in a most amicable and friendly spirit. He then read a letter from the Hon. F. Scott, M.P., the chairman of that company, apologizing for not being present, and expressing a desire on the part of the board to afford the Portsmouth Company every facility in their power for carrying on and developing the traffic of the district. (Cheers.)
Mr. ERRINGTON, the engineer, stated that there were one million and a half of cubic yards of earthwork to be removed, 100 bridges to be constructed, from 7,000 to 8,000 tons of iron rails and chairs to be laid, and from 2,000 to 3,000 men would be employed for a period of nearly two years, at the end of which time the line would be completed. He thought so much labour could not be performed in the district without doing some good, and he believed that if the men behaved well, as they had promised to do, they would be treated well by the inhabitants of the district. (Hear.) He could assure them that the works would be commenced immediately, and would never cease until they were completed. He then handed the spade to Mr. Bonham Carter, as the worthiest man to commence the work. (Cheers.)
Mr. BONHAM CARTER then proceeded to cut the first sod, amid the cheers of a large concourse of respectable persons from London, Havant, Petersfield, and other places, the ringing of the church bells, waving of handkerchiefs and so forth. Having placed a few sods in the wheelbarrow, he wheeled it to the end of a temporary platform and tilted the contents on the ground beneath amid renewed cheers. He said he trusted that the work would be finished with the same spirit that it had commenced. He was convinced that great benefits would arise to the district from the undertaking. He thought the visitors from London would see, from the beauty of the country they had passed through that it was a district worth coming to; and he had no doubt they would have many new residents among them when the railway was completed. He had exerted himself very much to obtain the act, and he most heartily wished the undertaking every success. (Cheers.)
This concluded the ceremony, and the company retired to marquees on the ground, where a collation was prepared, and to which about 480 persons sat down. Mr. Mowatt presided. The usual loyal and other toasts were drunk and responded to, including ‟Success to the Portsmouth Railway.” Mr. Harker was toastmaster, and the proceedings concluded in a most satisfactory manner.